SGS Welcomes CTIA Commitment to OTA Test Plan Certification Road Map

SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, welcomes news that the CTIA, the US wireless communications industry’s trade organization, is to publish a road map for CTIA Over-the-Air (OTA) Test Plan certification following a series of recent reviews.

Wireless devices, such as smart phones, tablets and notebooks, must comply with the requirements of CTIA OTA certification before they can be offered onto the US market. The announcement will support recent efforts from SGS, to guide and inform manufacturers and suppliers of the upcoming changes.

The CTIA administers the PTCRB certification program for GSM, UMTS and LTE wireless devices. Testing against CTIA OTA Test Plan requirements must be performed by a CTIA Authorized Testing Laboratories (CATLs).

The PTCRB is a certification organization setup in 1997 by leading wireless operators to help ensure device interoperability on global wireless networks by defining test specifications and methods. Certification is a rigorous process, indicating to buyers that the operator and device manufacturer are confident their product is fully compatible. Without PTCRB certification, there is the possibility that the device will be blocked by wireless networks because they cannot be assured of interoperability.

SGS is advising stakeholders to check with their CTIA-approved third-party testing provider in order to ensure they remain compliant and continue to have access to the US market.

Changes in CTIA certification can be expected in the next two years but mandatory dates for each test plan release are expected to be determined on a case-by-case basis. The CTIA Road Map is expected to be published on its website shortly: www.ctia.org